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Cat Zingano def. Marion Reneau at UFC Fight Night 133: Best photos

For the first time in nearly four years, former title challenger Cat Zingano is back in the win column.

Thanks to a steady diet of takedowns that set a personal high-water mark as well as a company record for a women’s bantamweight fight, Zingano (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) took a unanimous decision from Marion Reneau (9-4-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC). Zingano won with a pair of 30-27 scores and a 30-26.

The women’s bantamweight bout opened up the main card of today’s UFC Fight Night 133 event at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. It aired on FS1 following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“I came in trying to dance my rhythm and be free to whatever came and just go – trust my corner, trust the work I did, and just show up and do it,” Zingano said. “Whatever, man. Whoever wants some. Obviously I think Amanda Nunes have something to talk about. I want to avenge all my losses, wherever that takes me.”

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Reneau opened with a push kick to the body, then ducked away from a Zingano kick. Reneau woekd some counter rights, but Zingano picked her up and landed a takedown along the fence. But she backed out nearly 90 seconds in and let Reneau back to her feet. They clinched up and Reneau landed a pair of elbows.

Midway through, Reneau jumped guard and went to her back and let Zingano go to work on top. But after 30 seconds there, Zingano let her back up to go back to the standup game with two minutes left. Zingano landed an inside leg kick, then tried up high. Both landed left hands, but it was Zingano’s that wobbled Reneau. With 45 seconds left, Reneau moved in for a clinch and again landed an elbow. A late takedown for Zingano was on the money.

Twenty seconds into the second, Zingano landed her fourth takedown of the fight. Reneau looked for a triangle, but Zingano again let her back up. A big leg kick from Zingano stumbled Reneau and put her briefly to a knee. Zingano then took her down once again. Not long after, Zingano again brought the fight back to standing. Zingano kept working the leg kick, but with a minute left she landed yet another takedown. She stayed atop in Reneau’s guard to close the round.

Zingano picked up Reneau for a big slam early in the final round and went to work from the north-south position, then side control. Ninety seconds in, Zingano worked to take Reneau’s back, but Reneau recovered to full guard. Still, she had no real answer for Zingano’s top game down the stretch.

Zingano snapped a three-fight skid for her first win since September 2014, which came against current champ Nunes – and earned Zingano a title shot. Reneau had a four-fight unbeaten streak snapped and lost for the first time since February 2016.